Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



A. W. PBARSALL. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILEDJULY'25, I907. RENEWED AUG.14, 1912.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913. I a sums-sum 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

A. W. PEARSALL.

PNEUMATIC DESPATOH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1907. RENEWED AUG. 14, 1912.

1,057,266. Patented Mar.25,1913.

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A. W. PEARSALL. PNEUMATIC DESPATOH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILEDJULY 25, 1907. RENEWED AUG.14, 1912.

1,057,2 Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

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UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT W. PEABSALL, F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LAMSON COM-PANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Application filed July 25, 1907, Serial No. 385,446. Renewed August 14,1912. Serial No. 715,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. PEARSALL, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch tubeapparatus and particularly to those systems which comprise a singletransmission tube through which a carrier may be despatched in eitherdirection.

The object of my invention is to provide an electrical means of startingand a pneumatic control of the power from either terminal of said tubein such a manner as to cause the blower or pump which is connected withone end of the tube to be started for the purpose of supplying a currentof air in the required direction for the transmission of the carrier andto automatically stop said pump immediately after the delivery of saidcarrier.

The device is arranged to electrically control the starting of the motordriving the blower or pump upon the despatch of a carrier and to controlthe air pressure to pneumatically control the stopping of said motorupon the delivery of a carrier.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus showingthe mechanism in normal or non-operating position. Fig. 2 is an enlargedview of the upper portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged frontelevation of the electrically pneumatically controlled motor reversingswitch hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the switchshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the automaticlock valve controlling the transmission tube. Fig. 6 is an enlarged'detail of one of the air valves.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

A and B represent two stations connected by a single transmission tube Cnormally open to the atmosphere at station A and closed at the oppositeend at station B by a lock-valve C The end of the tube C at station B isconnected with the blower or pump I by a tube C The blower I is drivenby an electric motor 3 through a belt 2. The motor 3 is series-wound andits circuit includes a normally open reversing switch 1 by means ofwhich the motor may be started in either direction and stopped.

D is an ordinary cut-out switch connecting the motor circuit with linewires L L As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 41, the switch 1 comprises a plateor slate 5 to the back of which is fixed an extension 6, Fig. 1,supporting One end of a tube 7) which is connected with the lower orstationary end of the bellows 7 the tube 12 is connected at its lowerend to the terminal at B, the valve F being located between where thetube 6 connects with the terminal at B and the source of power. To theupper or movable end of the bellows 7 is fixed a plate which carriesears to which the hand lever 9 is pivoted at 8, this hand lever 9 beingalso pivoted near the handle at 10 to a bracket 6 secured to the plate5. Secured to the top of the bracket 6 is a magnet M connected and incircuit with the battery X and push button a at station A through wiresa, oat-and w.

The armature m of the magnet M is connected with the upper end of a rodm and through a slot in this rod m the hand lever 9 passes, the lowerend of said rod being connected by a pin 11 with the slotted arms of twobell-crank levers 12 and 13 pivotally mounted at 14 and 15 upon theslate 5. The longer arms of the bell cranks 12 and 13 carry respectivelycontacts 16 and 17 and are offset relatively as shown in Fig. 41 so thatwhen the rod m is moved said arms can pass each'other as indicated bydotted lines Fig. 4:. Mounted on the slate 5 in position to cooperatewith the contacts 16 and 17 are two stationary contacts 18 and 19respectively against which contacts one or the other of the contacts 16and 17 is brought when the rod m is raised or lowered-contacts 16 and 17being so balanced in conjunction with the lever 9 as to bring when atrest, the levers 12 and 13 in an intermediate position as shown in Figs.3 and 1. A roll m is mounted in a slot in the rod m through which thelever 9 passes and is adapted to be engaged by the lever 9 by depressingthe handle of said lever to lift the rod m and swing the bell cranks 12and 13 past each other into the crossed dotted line position shown inFig. 3, thus connecting the bell crank 12 with the contact 19 and thebell crank 13 with contact 18, and

when the rod m is lowered by energizing the magnet M, bell cranks 12 and13 swing apart, thus connecting the bell crank 12 with contact 18 andbell crank 13 with contact 19. To counterbalance the horizontal slottedshort arms of .the bell cranks, the latter are weighted as at 20 and 21.In the end of the tube C at station Ais a valve a normally open andcarrying a trip a projecting into the path of the carriers dischargingfrom said tube said trip being actuated by the carrier to temporarilyclose said valve. The valve C normally closing the opposite end of thetube C at the station B is held closed by the spring-actuated lock levera engaging the pin 0 A plunger 0 is adapted to be actuated by a carrierto release lever c and permit the opening of the valve 0 by the carrier.The opening of this valve 0 when a carrier discharges causes the lever 0to impinge on a plunger F located in a casing F in the tube 0. Theplunger F throws the valve F pivoted at F in casing F against thetension of the spring F into the path of the air current which closessaid valve.

In despatching a carrier from A to B, the operator presses the button awhich energizes the magnet M and through the armature m depresses therod on swinging the contacts 16 and 17 into engagement with the contacts18 and 19 respectively. The motor 3 is now started and the blower Icreates a vacuum or air current in the tube C. The button is nowreleased and the carrier inserted into the tube C at station A is drivenby the inrush of air into said tube C toward station B. In the meantime,the vacuum acting through the pipe 6 holds the bellows 7 contracted andthe contacts 16 and 17 in engagement with contacts 18 and 19. When thecarrier reaches the station B, it strikes the plunger 0 releasing thelock lever 0 and opening the valve 0 The lever a strikes the plunger Fthrowing the valve F into the air current which closes Said valve,causing a fluctuation in the air current. The vacuum in the pipe 6 isnow destroyed, being cut off from the source of vacuum by valve F andthe bellows 7 resumes it normal intermediate position as shown in Fig. 4due to the weight of levers 12 and 13 acting through rod m and lever 9opening the switch 4 and stopping the motor 3. The source of vacuum nowbeing cutofi, the valve F resumes by action of spring F its normalposition as shown in Fig. 6.

In despatching a carrier from station B to station A, the operatorthrows down the lock lever 0 opening the valve 0 and inserts the carrierinto the tube C. The lever 0 is then released and the valve 0 lockedclosed. The operator now presses the handle 9 downward, which throughrod m moves the contacts 1617 against contacts 1918 respectively, or inthe reverse position to that heretofore described. The motor 8 is nowstarted and drives the blower I in the direction to produce a pressurein the tube C which drives the carrier through said tube in thedirection of the station A. The pressure also acts through the tube 5 tohold bellows 7 distended and switch t in position. The carrier indischarging from the tube C at station A strikes the trip a moving thevalve a into the current of air which closes said valve. The backpressure now acts upon the plunger 0* releasing and opening the valve 0and relieving the pressure in the tube 7) and bellows 7 causes thebellows to contract and switch 4- to resume normal or open position. Themotor now stops and the valve a returns to normal or open position.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent ot the United States is:

1. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction between two stations, anair pump connected with said tube at one of said stations and adapted tosupply a current of air in either direction through said tube fordriving carriers, :1 motor for driving said pump, means located at eachof said stations for starting said motor and pump, means operated by thecarriers arriving at either station to cause a fluctuation of airpressure in the system, and means actuated by the fluctuation of airpressure for stopping the motor and pump.

2. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of? carriers in either direction between two stations, anair pump connected with said tube at one of said stat-ions, a motoradapted to be reversed for driving said pump to supply a current of airthrough said tube in either direction for driving carriers, an electricswitch located at one of saidstations adapted to be closed to start saidmotor to produce a current of air in one direction through said tube,hand-operated means located at the other station for starting said motorto produce a current of air in the opposite direction, and meansactuated by the air pressure to hold said switch closed.

3. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either diection between two stations, an airpump connected with said tube at one of said stations, a motor adaptedto be reversed for driving said pump to supply a current of air throughsaid tube in either direction for driving carriers, an electric switchlocated at one of said stations adapted to be closed to start said motorto produce a current of air in one direction through said tube,hand-operated means located at the other station for starting said motorto produce a current of air in the opposite direction, means actuated bythe air pressure to hold said switch closed, and means operated bycarriers on arriving at either of said stations for automaticallystopping said motor.

4. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single normally open tubefor the transmission of carriers in either direction between twostations, an air pump connected with said tube at one of said stationsand adapted to supply a current-of air in either direction through saidtube for driving carriers, a motor for driving said pump, a switch forcontrolling said motor, means located at each of said stations foroperating said switch to start said motor, and a normally open valvelocated at each station adapted to be closed by a carrier arriving ateither of said stations to cause a fluctuation in said air current andmeans actuated by the fluctuation in the air current to operate saidswitch to stop the motor.

5. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single normally open tubefor the transmission of carriers in either direction between twostations, an air pump connected with said tube at one of said stationsand adapted to supply a current of air in either direction through saidtube for driving carriers, a motor for driving said pump, a switch forcontrolling said motor, means located at each of said stations foroperating said switch to start said motor, a normally open valve locatedat each station adapted to be closed by a carrier arriving at either ofsaid stations to cause a fluctuation in said air current, means actuatedby the fluctuation in the air current to operate said switch to stop themotor, and means for automatically opening said valves after said motorhas stopped.

6. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction between two stations, anair pump connected with said tube at one of said stations, a motoradapted to be reversed for driving said pump to supply a current of airthrough said tube in either direction for driving carriers, a singleswitch adapted to start, stop or reverse said motor, means forelectrically controlling said switch from one of said stations to startsaid motor in one direction, means located at the other station formanually controlling said switch to start said motor in the oppositedirection, and means for automatically operating said switch upon thearrival of a carrier at either station to stop said motor and pump.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 22nd day of July A. D. 1907.

ALBERT W. PEARSALL.

Witnesses:

JAMES J. RYAN, HOWARD R. DUNBAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

